Y’all know that I absolutely live for a denim-on-denim combination. Maybe it’s the 2001 Britney Spears / Justin Timberland in me but I can never get enough. But not one to wallow in the ordinary, I always try to tszuj it up a little with a neutral tee or dynamic shoe!

Recently, I was bopping around Soho with my friend (and blogger) Serena Goh checking out some newly-opened hot spots. I paired a denim top from Express with these incredibly comfortable jeans, also from Express. I can’t even begin to tell you how heavenly these jeans are. Aside from being stylish, they’re also stretchy – which usually translates to me eating my fill at lunch and feeling far less guilty, hah [wink].

If you haven’t stopped by Express to check out their summer selection, it’s about time you did. Your closet will certainly thank you!

This post is sponsored by Bota Box and part of my ongoing partnership with them!

One of my favorite parts of living in New York City is that, on a whim, I have an ocean of activities at my fingertips. For instance, this week, we had one insanely beautiful day (think high-80’s sunny weather, a cool breeze, and just general good energy) that I knew I couldn’t waste away inside on my computer.

With about a half-hour’s notice, I invited some friends to join me in Tompkins Square Park for a last-minute all-you-can-eat picnic. Quick fixin’s like sliced fruit and vegetables anchored the spread, while my stock of Bota Box Pinot Grigio Minis held down the fort!

Ever since I’ve started my partnership with Bota Box, I have been obsessed with their Bota Minis – not only are they incredibly adorable but they’re extremely portable, which means last-minute excursions (like this picnic) are made exceptionally better.

These 500ml powerhouses house the equivalent of three glasses of wine, aka the perfect ratio of wine-to-fun. And while I mentioned in my previous post, the best reason to stock up on Bota Box and Bota Box Minis are because they packaging is 100% recyclable because it’s printed on post-consumer fiber.

Needless to say, thanks to my on-the-go favorites, we had an awesome picnic full of laughs and full bellies.

If it hasn’t been obvious by now, I’m a pretty social person. I love gathering groups of friends for nights out, picnic lunches in the park, or even an after-work happy hour. The joy of having friends come together for a chat and a laugh makes my heart happy.

Last week, I had a few of my closest pals join me at The Shops at Columbus Circle. I’ve chatted before about my love for The Shops at Columbus Circle (read it here) so I was stoked to offer up a night where we could unwind, relax, and – most importantly – have some fun!

We started off our evening with a whiskey and charcuterie tasting at Center Bar, located on uppermost level of The Shops at Columbus Circle, marries the casual, social vibe of a hotel bar with the chic experience of a craft cocktail lounge. We chatted over deconstructed Manhattans and round-bodied Old Fashioneds – we even had the opportunity to chat with chef and owner Michael Lomonaco when he brought over our incredible board of hand-selected charcuterie.

After polishing off our delicious cocktails at Center Bar, we made our way to Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola for dinner and a little live music. If you haven’t checked out Dizzy’s before, it’s an absolute must! This upscale, yet intimate club serves up Southern-inspired food with a heart dose of live jazz music nightly – all the while noshing on unparalleled views over Central Park and eastern Manhattan.

I’m so thrilled I could bring some of my friends by for an evening they won’t soon forget. As guys do, our conversations left me laughing so hard my sides hurt. If you’re looking for a spot to chill with some of your guys, look no further than these stand-out spots at The Shops at Columbus Circle. Center Bar and Dizzy’s (among other award-winning spots) also make the perfect spot to take your Dad for Father’s Day – a memorable way to celebrate the kick-ass guys in your life!

Here are few photos from my trip to Ireland last month – what an incredible experience that was! On this particular day, Christina (@troprouge) and I decided to explore some of the touristy sights of Dublin, like Trinity College’s Library, which looked straight out of a Harry Potter movie, and the Temple Bar neighborhood, which offers a vibrant and eclectic bar scene – albeit very touristy.

I couldn’t help making a quick gelato stop while we got ourselves lost!

This look is green-on-green-in-green – and y’all know I love just about anything in the mossy/earthy green color palette. The shirt and pants are from Express; I picked them up on a recent shopping trip around the 5th Avenue area. If you haven’t popped into Express lately, they are stocking some fantastic basics (like crew neck tees, and short sleeve Henley shirts) plus their khaki joggers are always a summer staple of mine.

Well… I can’t believe we made it to the 50th Music Monday playlist! Music plays a major role in my life and I’m so thankful that I get to share the love with y’all each time. Since we’ve made it to 50, I decided to populate this playlist with 100 of my favorite songs I’ve featured on the last two and half years. Some are old hits, some were new releases, but they’re all jam-worthy!

Well, without further distraction, let’s rewind the clock and get our summer dance on! Grab a glass of rosé and push play…

Don’t forget to subscribe to my Spotify profile to stay up-to-date on all my playlists. Have a song I should hear? Email me with your suggestion!

This post is part of my on-going partnership with Fossil’s new Q Smartwatch #FossilFirsts Series.

On July 1st, 2015, I made the decision to quit my stable corporate job to work on my blog full-time. It was at once one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking days of my professional life (thus far). Making that decision – and knowing that I had ample room for failure – gave me the push I needed to pursue a career in industries I was passionate about. Knowing what I know now (and how much my success came from freeing myself up to explore those passions), I wouldn’t change a thing!

There have been a lot of perks to my job, but one of my absolute favorite aspects to my work is that because I don’t have a traditional schedule (think 9-5’s), I’m able to allot a chunk of my day to exploring and fostering my community. I’ve met the most amazing shopkeepers, restauranteurs, baristas, and even a few roadside vendors that have since become close confidantes of mine, both professionally and personally.

Meeting other professionals in community, seeing how they’ve succeeded, and learning from their wisdom has been exponentially rewarding for me. For the first time in my life, I’m feeling truly fulfilled. I’ve found the balance that you read about in self-help books and think, “that’ll never be me – that’s a bunch of bull!” But it happened… because I listened to my gut, followed my passion, and opened my network up to inspiration!

As part of my on-going partnership with Fossil, I was tasked with showing off my #FossilFirst moment and how I incorporate my Fossil Q Grant Hybrid smartwatch into it. Since I’ve talked so much about my community in this post, I thought it would be fun to include a few of my favorite spots in the East Village of Manhattan where I find my most creative self:

East Village Florist – This neighborhood staple carries just about every variety of flower and plant you can imagine. Walking in feels like you’ve crossed into Narnia – and the friendly staff always comes with a quirky story.

Three Seat Espresso & Barber – This Instagram-worthy café has captured the heart of Avenue A. Residents flood into this marble gem at all hours. And while you may come for the coffee, you’ll stay for the conversations with the friendly Australian staff. If I’m working over coffee, I love having my Fossil Q Hybrid Smartwatch around because it can control my music so I can swap up the song without skipping a beat!

The Lodge – This menswear-only shop carries the latest and greatest in products and accessories, while offering up dapper inspiration to shoppers along 10th

Pouring Ribbons – Step into another era with this uber-cool East Village bar and snack shop. Consistently ranked among favorite bars in the City by those “in-the-know”, Pouring Ribbons is perfect for a neighborhood meetup and a wonderful spot to catch up over a cocktail. (Ps – the Fossil Q also allows me to quickly view my phone’s notifications so I can stay in the conversation without feeling completely disconnected.

Still House – This beautiful interiors and knick-knack shop is a minimalist’s dream. Housing some of the chicest homewares around – even if you don’t snag anything, you’ll walk away feeling inspired.

New Museum – The only dedicated contemporary art museum in Manhattan, the New Museum boasts itself as a leading destination for new art and new ideas. With rotating exhibitions and an incredibly curated permanent collection, you’d me amiss to miss out on this!

Last weekend, I turned 30 years old. It was both terrifying and empowering to say goodbye to one of the most incredible decades of my life. I spent a lot of the last ten years figuring out what it was I wanted out of life and accepting myself for all that I am. I’m no life expert (what’s the opposite of that, because that seems more appropriate) but I wanted to share a little insight on what I’ve learned while navigating those ten wild self-discovery years known as Your 20’s.

You will make mistakes. You’ll make a lot of mistakes – but that’s part of learning to navigate life without training wheels. Reflect on every experience with a scholar’s eye – and use those experiences as a guidebook for the person you want to be.

You get to choose your friends. Find your tribe and foster them with all your being. A friendship is one of the most valuable everlasting tools you can forge.

Be friends with faucets, not drains. Choose those who consistently fill you up, instead of emptying you out. Spend your energy on those who make you feel like the best version of yourself! Realize that you won’t vibe/connect with everyone – and that is okay! You get to decide who deserves your time.

Do what you need to do to pay your bills. Your first few jobs likely won’t make you rich and they may not be glamorous, but work hard and be patient because the job you love is around the corner. I promise.

Save what you can. It’s not always possible to save X dollars from each paycheck. But if you can save a little, do it. Living on a budget is normal – everyone has to do it.

Don’t let anyone ever make you feel bad for how you look or what you eat. As long as you love yourself, that’s all that matters in the end. Anyone who says otherwise can sit on a tack.

Eat dessert. You deserve it.

Ask a lot of questions. Don’t be complacent; curiosity is necessary for success. Learn as much as you can about the world around you, become a student of your own environment. Never be afraid to ask, “how?” or “why?”.

Learn to laugh at yourself. You’re going to screw up at some point – but if you can find humor in the discomfort, you’ll be just fine.

Be honest, always. Lies may be easy to tell but they’re not worth the guilt and stress. Save yourself a lot of wasted time by telling the truth – even when it means you can’t please everybody.

Invest in clothes that fit well and last a while. Buy a quality piece or two each season (a nice pair of jeans or a cashmere sweater, for instance) and you’ll save yourself so much more money in the long run.

Life moves faster as you get older. Don’t forget to savor it – the “right now” is all we’ve got. Log off your digital life for a bit and appreciate what you’ve got around you.

Laughter really is the best medicine so laugh a lot. Surround yourself with people who can make you church-giggle. You’ll live longer… look it up.

Haters are gonna hate – that’s an undeniable fact. But let them hate a helluva long way from your radiant light. Your 20’s is about finding yourself, discovering your talents, and learning to love the f*ck out of who you are… because yes, you really are that awesome!

Destiny and fate are great but sometimes they need a little nudge in the right direction. If you want something, don’t ever be scared to ask for it. Just make sure you can back up the request with what it takes to receive it – whether that be hard work, a go-getter attitude, or an emotional sacrifice. Reach for the stars, baby!

Splurge on a quality mattress and you’ll be saving yourself a lot of future pain… literally. If you don’t have the funds for it right now, at least invest in a good pillow. Your neck deserves it!

Resist the urge to gossip. Follow the old adage: “If you’ve got nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Be an agent for compassion and goodness. It sounds lame but you’ll be avoiding a lot of drama in the end. Believe me…

Go on loads of dates. Meet people. It may go nowhere or it may go all the way… you get to write that narrative. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll inevitably get hurt. But in the end, like a hand to a flame, you learn how to avoid getting burned. And you eventually find a heart worthy of your love.

If there’s something you don’t like about yourself, you can change it. We are who we are but we dictate our own destiny. Explore the person you want to be and take the necessary actions to get yourself there. We’re never ever too old to change.

Take your time. Life isn’t a race… take the time to figure out who you are and where you want to be. Trust the process.